Archibald Montgomery Low, a British inventor and engineer who, in 1925, envisioned the world a century into the future. "He was a man ahead of his times for sure. Some of his predictions were pretty much spot on," said Jen Baldwin, a research expert at Findmypast, according to CBC News.
Born in 1888, Archibald Montgomery Low was a British physicist, engineer, inventor, science communicator, and writer who made many predictions throughout his life, including a list of forecasts for the next 100 years published in his 1925 book titled The Future. His ideas were rediscovered and are gaining attention for their accuracy.
Among his predictions, Low foresaw the rise of mobile phones and the use of personal devices for communication. In his writings, he predicted that people would communicate using personal broadcasting devices, including personal radio sets. He envisioned that by 2025, people could access global broadcasts with the push of a button, according to VietnamNet.
Low also anticipated the advent of television. He predicted that household loudspeakers and TV machines would replace picture newspapers to provide information and entertainment content on demand. He stated that a television would replace pictures in newspapers and that people would watch events on television, as reported by Milenio.
He foresaw the automation of everyday tasks, envisioning programmable alarms that would wake people up in the morning. He predicted that people would be woken up on time by radio alarm clocks set to receive specific signals at the time the person wanted to wake up. CBC News noted this prediction, considering how accurate it was given the prevalence of alarm clocks today.
Low imagined a world in which stairs and sidewalks can move, predicting that by 2025, conveyor belts and escalators would be everyday realities to help people save effort when moving through cities. He anticipated the use of escalators as they are used today, according to CaféF.
In the realm of energy, Low's predictions about the use of wind and tidal power are being realized. He foresaw that "wind and tide will be harnessed to serve mankind." Stern reports that recent investments in offshore wind and solar energy align with his foresight.
However, not all of his predictions proved to be true. Some of Low's predictions about people wearing jumpsuits and hats made of synthetic materials did not come to pass. He imagined that people of the future would wear one-piece felt suits and matching hats, as noted by CaféF.
Low was known for his contributions to science and technology. He was a consulting engineer, physicist, and inventor, known as the father of the radio navigation system due to his contributions to aircraft, torpedo boats, and guided missiles. VietnamNet reported his role in pioneering many fields, including the development of the first powered drone.
Despite his achievements, some of his views were divisive. He claimed that women would not reach the intelligence of men even in a hundred years, according to Stern.
Throughout his life, Low wrote over 40 books, including works of science fiction, and was well known in his time. CBC News reports that he was often giving lectures and newspaper interviews about his thoughts on various topics. "He was really focused on making science and technology accessible to the masses," said Jen Baldwin.
After his death in 1956, Low "just kind of falls off the radar," according to Jen Baldwin. She added, "People just kind of forget about him. And there are hundreds and hundreds of people like him that have these kinds of stories."
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq